Multi-heat motor actuated valves



Jan. 15, 1957 HANSEN 2,77'2 ,662

MULTI-HEAT MOTOR ACTUATED VALVES Filed Aug. 17, 1951 United StatesPatent O 2,777,662 Patented J an. 1531957 ,MUL' II-HEAT .MOIOR 'ACTUA'IED YALVES George E. Hansen, Elmwood-Park, 111., assignor to Crane Co.,*Cl1icago,fIll., a. corporation 'ofilllinois Application August 17," 195 1,v Serial'NmZl-ZQSI -4 Claims. --(Cl. 251--'11) This invention relates a to multi-heat :motor. .actuated valves, and, moreparticularly, to anovel form .of valve constructionin which the closure member or disc isoperable either by means of a bimetallic element or azsuitable pressure actuated.meansucooperatingcwith'the said closure member.

in ,order- .-to .obtain a .more completennderstanding .of .the. significance .of this-contribution, it.;should-..beunderstood that heretofore-.packless.valves .ofithis..general type have been largely operated by means 1 of. solenoid :mech- .anisms or other. forms :ofremote control. operatingmechanisms. However, :thesezdevices. have beerr subjectito the .objectionzthatthe zsolenoids,".forexample,v have frequently not been sufficiently. strong .or..powerful .to-.develgp :the ,necessary .torque. or pull .to. efiect ;the desired operation.

.Another. objection isithat :the previous types ofstructures have .not possessed :sufiicientiaflexibilitystosenable *them'to beope'ratedzunder conditions of .relativelyu high pressures or temperatures, or a combination of both.

1Thus,-it iseone of 'the .more; important objects f: this ,invention to provide armeans fora obtaining valve ropera- .tion whereby-:the .valve .may be either; slowly .or .quickly .zopenednr closed-:depending upon the nature-.of zthezcircurnstances.

:Another object- .ofzthe ,invention is.toprovideior. a valve .operating structure, .in which asuch nmving-aparts vas. .the

- valyestemgrpaclcingsglandsaand stufiingsbogresareteliminated andthe costof the valve is correspondingly: reduced.

Azfurthen iobject is;to' provide. fora structure imwhich a bimetallic :disezactuatormay be .usedwhich "changes in shape .with; the; temperaturesfluctuationmnd :thus 3 causes valveoperation.

.A; further objectis .to=.proyide:for..a structureiini which the. range. of the 1 operating. temperature 1 of.;-the1bi metallic unit can be controlled,"-.for.example,= by means .of a1mu1ti- :positioned resistancesswitch. i-The :bimetallic element :.or

"the pressure actuated. element ;to. which: :the: disc=.or. .closure is fastened bnappliedintegrally either-to :the'heating element or housing. cBy. -merely.:changing.-.or: regulating the temperature: the-said rheatingelernent .orjhous- :ing,ythe bimetallic. disc iornpressure responsive element -willmove. the valve. closure member therebywto open or close. the valve.

-.;It has been further tound'that bythe employment of a suitable switch, the .valve ean "-be Trnade fto :operate within a rangeof openyclosed,.or:.'-throttle positions.

-A further-cbjeet' is toprovide a-=strueture in=which the actuating; heating-element -may be-suitably connected to a water. pipeline, so=that -if the valverequires :opening within a Quickinterval, water or other fluid -is allowed to enter the housing and therebycoolthe bimetallic element-or disc closure rnember employed.

-A further objectli's jtO supply a substitute for the use 'of the water line by-permitting in eombination withrthe heating element a'valve line or-flow;eonneetion-to steam or hot water supply sothat-operation of the bimetallic 'iiisc cambe eontrolled accordingly.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding withthe following specification read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which modification.

Similar reference numerals-refer to similar-parts throughout the several figures.

' Referring now to-Fig; 1, -a conventional" globe valve casing, generally designated 1,=is sh'own consisting of two coupled portions, 2 and 3-respeetively,* constituting the inlet and outlet'of the valve and connected in any .suitablednanner tothe inlet supplyconduit=4=- and the dischargepipe-S. The v'alve-h-alvesorsections maybe joined in any one of several ways, for example, bymeans .of theline weld; as indicated at 6, peripherally applied -asshown, thereby to effect a'fluid sealed relationship .between thepartS-Z- and 3of the casing l attera-ssembly of the internal elements hereinafter described. "The heating element, generally designated'7, is preferably, 'but -.=not necessarily, positioned in transverse relationship within the valve inzafluid sealedconne'ction at 8. The

casing;9 is provided asat llzwith' the bimetallic element 12sordesignated which .is welded, soldered, or otherwise .connected tontheccasing, :thus u'cornpletingwan in'tern'al 30.

.isextended, the .latterprodzbeingrconnectedin the usual chamber 13. T hrough the;latter,- a. coiled heating ro'cl 14 manner, as at 15,:'to. the-'electric"wires'16connectedin the usual-mannerto a powerlineby'means or" a multiple resistance switch .17.

The switch is: provided-.in t'ne customary manner with a resistance, element generally-designated .18, so. that'the -desired-amount. of heatamaynbersapplied .to the-:heating rod .14. -:By,.;means, of theflselective application of the pointer 19, structure is provi'cleduseful in developing'the desired heating resistance .for ithe electrical element.

:Preferably,-;but: not necessarily, opposite end portions. of

the casing may have the conduits 21 and 22 leadingtheredrum and connected as :at:.23 andi24 to-the casing 9. Preferably, ,the valves 25 and '26. are provided for the 45 .control or regulation. of the fluid admissionintot the inlet and outlet respectiveconduitsfil and 22 in themanner .desired and for reasons hereinafterexplained in greater -length. The bimetallic element ll has attached thereto 1 or integral therewith a disc or, closure.-member,;generally designated 27, withan'extension 28 either abutting or .-.attached as-at 29 to the bimetallic element 11. The.clo-

sure member 27 has fluid sealingcontact at 31'1with'the casing 1 to form the usual valve seat. Preferablywat its lower end portion a closure member-has an extension rod or guide 32, receivablewithin'the integralcspider 33, as indicated, to guidethe discor closurermember in the courseof its, reciprocal movement within=the casing.

in the operation of this device, the switch'17 connected to anelect'ric supply line [allows the electric current to enter" by means of the wires 16 into'the heating ro'd14,

.thereby causing the temperature oi-the latterto rise rapidly. Thus, the temperature within the chamber .13, which may be either supplied with a fluid :or else .by permitting the air withinithe chamber 13 to become heated, [the bimetallic element is causedto expan'd and thereby'force the closure rnernberfi27 toward'theseat'ial of the casing. -However, shoul'd such actuatiom'be impossible-say, due to an elect'ric line breakdown or-because of other conditions, the "benefit of =the heating suppliedbyelectricity cannot be received:then..the-:conamen-1, :controllab'le #b'y' :meansxotithet-valve 25,:may the connected to a suitable source of heat supplied, as, for

.2 example, with hot gases, steam, or the like. Thus, in a similar manner, the chamber 13 of the heating element is caused to become heated and similarly the expansion of the bimetallic element 11 is effected. A fine control ofthe temperature within the fluid of the chamber 13 may also be obtained by means of the regulation of the outlet valve, for example, at 26. Obviously, when it is desired to open the valve or to even throttle the valve, the desired fluid at a predetermined lower temperature may be used to cause the contraction of the bimetallic element 11, and thus lift the valve slightly or greatly, as required, from its seat within the casing.

It will, therefore, be clear that a relatively simple type of valve operator has been devised in which the danger of escape of fluids into atmosphere is avoided. At the same time, the closure member operation is positive and also is done with suflicient force to meet most conditions encountered in the field. While the shape of the heating rod 14 herein described is of coiled construction, it is, of course, clear that the shape of this rod may vary substantially, depending upon the nature of the services to be rendered and the shape of the heating chamber or casing 9.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 3, it should be apparent that in some instances, it might be desirable to dispense with the internal chamber for containing the heating element. In this structure, the usual electric wires 16 are connected to a novel form of heating rod 34, which in the instant structure is mounted around the outside of the casing 35 attached to the valve body 36, as at 3'7, and in which case, the chamber portion 35 depends therefrom as shown. A chamber 38 to be heated is used, and, preferably, at the upper end thereof for the introduction of such fluids as may be desirable under certain conditions, a filler plug 39 is used. The heating element 34 is coiled around the depending portion 35, as shown. At the lower end of thechamber 38, a valve closure member 41 is used, seating within the casing as at 42, and having an upper stem portion 43 preferably integrally applied thereto, and projecting as indicated by the dotted lines within the chamber 38. Preferably, the journalled portion 44 of the depending section 35 may use the O-ring 45 as a sealing element. The valve casing is provided in the usual manner with the respective inlets .46 and 47, as shown, for suitable connection to pipe condition Within said chamber and thereby causing the disc or plunger closure member 41 to be forced downwardly toward the seat 42 and thus efiect the desired seating contact therewithin. While an angle type of valve has been illustrated, it should, of course, be understood that this is merely for purpose of illustration, and the valve casing may be made in any other suitable form of valve structure, such as a gate or a globe, or even a lift check valve, if desired.

In the further modified structure shown in Fig. 4-, the valve casing 48 is shown similarly provided with the inlets and outlets 49 and 51 and has the valve closure member 52 seating as at 53 within the casing 48. At the upper portion of the latter casing, a plug member 54 is used, threadedly attached as at 55, and is provided with 21 depending hollow extension 55 within which the as described in connection with Fig. 1 to the multiple switch 63 having a resistance unit and the indicator 64 to supply the desired amount of heat to the heating rod 61. A filler plug for the same purpose as previously described is also installed as at 65. In this structure, it will be clear that the heating element 61 upon suitable electrical actuation will increase the temperature of the chamber 57 upon actuation of the switch 63, thereby causing the closure member under the rising pressure influence within the chamber 57 to be driven downward toward the valve seat 53 and thus making the seating contact shown. Similarly, a suitable conduit connection may be made in all instances, so that the heating element 61 may be conveniently replaced by piping connections supplying hot water or steam to the chamber 57 and thus operate the valve in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that Within the spirit of the invention, a Wide variety of actuating structure may be employed, and it is the desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve actuating mechanism, the combination comprising a valve casing, a chamber in the said casing and a valve seat in the chamber, means for supplying heated fluid to the said valve casing, the said fluid supply means comprising an inner casing within the chamber of said first named casing, a bimetallic element forming V a wall of the said inner casing, a heating rod for aflecting the temperature of the said inner casing, a closure member connected with the said bimetallic element and being responsive to changes in temperatures of fluid Within the said inner casing effected by the said fluid heating means thereby to open and close the valve, and means cooperating with the said fluid supply means for regulating the input of the fluid means to the said inner cas- 2. In a valve actuating mechanism, the combination comprising a valve casing, a chamber in the said casing and a valve seat in the chamber, means for supplying heated fluid to the said casing, the said fluid supply means comprising an inner casing of flattened configuration within the chamber of said first named casing, a bimetallic element constituting a face portion of the said inner casing, a heating rod within the inner casing for changing the temperature of the said inner casing, a closure member connected to the said inner casing for reciprocating movement relative to said valve seat, and

being connected to said bimetallic element for movement responsive to changes in temperatures of fluid within the said inner casing effected by the said fluid heating means thereby to open and close the valve, and means exterior of the said first named casing for regulating the input of the fluid means to the said inner casing, the said himetallic element constituting a predeterminately movable transverse end wall of the said inner casing.

3. In a valve actuating mechanism, the combination comprising a valve casing, a chamber in the said casing and'a valve seat in the chamber, means for supplying heated fluid to the said casing, the said fluid supply means comprising an inner casing within the chamber of said first named casing, a bi-metallic element forming a portion of one wall of said inner casing, a coiled heating rod for changing .the temperature of the said inner casing, a closure member connected to the said bi-metallic element and being responsive to changes in temperatures of fluid within the said inner casing eflected by the said fluid heating means thereby to open and close the valve seat, the coiled portion of said heating rod being positioned in close proximity back of said bi-metallic element, and valve means cooperating with the said fluid supply means for regulating the input of the fluid means to the said inner casing,-the said valve means being carried by the said fluid supply means.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, the said casing hav- 6 ing guide means cooperating with the said closure mem- 1,441,549 Wells Jan. 9, 1923 her to axially align the movement of said latter member 1,848,653 Persons Mar. 8, 1932 relative to the said valve seat. 1,982,582 Lovekin Nov. 27, 1934 2,044,427 Giesler June 16, 1936 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 2584445 Halek 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 441,817 Bell Dec. 2, 1890 ,7 9 Germany Apr. 6, 1935 

